The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Victory Against Physical Fiji

Quilter Nations Series

England (14) 38

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, George, Arundell, Itoje Cons: F Smith 5

Fiji (13) 18

Tries: Ikanivere 2, Muntz Pen: Muntz

England racked up four second-half tries to beat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

This win extends the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will likely again be crucial.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, Cunningham-South

Replacements: George, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Arundell

Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutaumada, Ravouvou, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere, Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Canakaivata, Mata

Replacements: Togiatama, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Murray, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Maqala

Sin-bin: Ravutaumada

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)